Stjärnorp Castle

Stjärnorp Castle (old spelling: Stiernorp or Stiernarp) is situated north of Linköping, in the southern province of Östergötland, Sweden. It was built by the Douglas Family, with a view over Lake Roxen.

History

The castle was built in 1655-1662 by Field Marshall Robert Douglas, Count of Skenninge (1611–1662). The castle and terraces were designed by Nicodemus Tessin the Elder. According to one legend, a story relates that during the war, comrades and brothers in arms Robert Douglas and Axel Lillie came home from the Peace of Westphalia, and they had made an agreement to build their own castles, Stjärnorp Castle and Löfstad Castle, so high that from the top floor, they could see and send greeting messages to each other.

Carl Fredric Broocman, writing in the mid-18th century on "Stiernarp":

"Thetta Manor Farm is located right along Lake Roxen, 5 ottondedels mil from the Church, and has a sizeable Stenhus Construction of four stories high, with the Tower of Wästra Sidon and open living area. The roof, like that be diminished UTI Royal, Council, Gref, Dahlbergs Svec. Ant. & Hod. Near here are two Vane-Stone Houses of two stories high, and there is a place UTI Southern Stone House with altar, Prädikstol, Orgelwerk and Lecter fitted up to Hoff-Church, and the center of the ceiling has a wackert Towers of Tim-clock. There is the lovely Hoff-Church, with further royal and priesthood consent. Then furthest from Sokne-Church in Forest district are residents, peasants, farmers and crofters, with freedom in keeping and bewista its ordenteliga worship all Sundays and Feast Days during the year. Nyßnämnda substantial building has Field-Marshall Robbert Douglas failed upföra wid passport in 1654, and now a major-general, and Knight, Count William Douglas, is the owner there of."

All the Stjärnorp buildings were destroyed during a fire on May 12, 1789, but the chapel was restored in the same year. Although the wings were built up again within a few years after the fire, the funds were lacking for the repair of the main building, which is still in ruins.

When Stjärnorp parish was formed in 1810, the castle chapel became the parish church chapel.

References

• This article incorporates information from the Swedish Wikipedia.